Protector (The Brannock Siblings Book 4) (8 page)

Liam smiled and looked around them while he answered, trying
to avoid the anxious feelings that consumed him when he saw her smile.
"Aye, I have four younger siblings. Two brother and two sisters."

"Are you all very close?"

"We are. We've had our fair share of arguments, but we
stick together." Liam tried to speak as clearly as he could for her and
she seemed to focus on his every word, which made it harder for him to speak at
all.

"That must be nice. And your parents?"

"They are parents," he shrugged, peering back at
her. "Ma is a tyrant and Da worships the ground she walks on."

Isabelle's laugh rang out through the grove, engulfing the
air around him and making it hard to breathe. "That's how it
should
be," she chuckled.

"Aye, it is. We've given them a hard time, but they are
good people and have raised us the best they can. Maggie keeps an eye out for Ma
so there's no getting away with anything. My father has no patience for the lot
of us most of the time and it doesn't help that he is a Guarda."

She scrunched up her eyebrows in confusion.

"He's what you would call a police officer."

"Oh."

"He's the eldest in his family. His father was an
officer as well as
his
father before him."

She quirked an eyebrow, "I assume you will be carrying
on the tradition?"

Liam shrugged. "I mean to, but it's not expected."

A frown pulled those distracting lips down , her brow
furrowing. Liam held his breath and tried not to stare too much. She seemed to
be sorting something out in her head so he gave her a moment.

Isabelle looked down at her lap with a wistful grin. "I
imagine things would be different if my family's expectations were different.
If they actually cared what happened to me."

"How can they not care?"

She looked at the sky once more and lifted a hand to tug on
her ear before sweeping a lock of hair behind it. Liam swallowed thickly. Her
long slender neck was like a beacon.

He shook his head and forced himself to listen. Now was not
the time to be imagining what she would taste like where her shoulder meets her
neck. Now was the time to pay attention and find out why she was here.

"My parents are trying to force me to marry a man I
don't want to marry."

"That still happens?" Liam asked. His shoulders
deflated hearing that she actually
did
have someone at home, but then
why was she here without him?

"In my situation, yes," Isabelle replied. "My
father is a businessman so they treat everything in life the same way. Make a
deal that will benefit them regardless of who it affects."

"And this man you are meant to marry. He is..."

She stood and stepped away from him. It was a question she
didn't want to answer and one that he would have begged her for if he had any
reason to. But he didn't. She was practically a stranger and why would a
stranger trust him?

"I shouldn't be speaking with you about this. I'm
sorry, I think I just got carried away. I am here for a vacation and I want to
spend it happy, not stressed."

"How long are you here in Ireland, Izzy?" he
asked, already making the hasty decision he knew he already would make.

She chewed on her lip and stood still as a statue.
"Twenty eight more days."

Twenty eight days.
He knew it wouldn't be long
enough, but then he had always taken the hard way when it came to life choices
now didn't he?

Maybe he couldn't fix her situation back home, but he could
give her a pleasant time while she was here at his home. The thought of whether
or not her family - or this man she was supposed to be with - would approve,
didn't occur to him. She was alone in a foreign country and he wasn't going to
have much to do anyway, so why not show her around?

"I like that," she said softly.

"I'm sorry?"

"Izzy. I like that name."

"Then it's yours," he winked.

She smiled and he watched her melt right there in front of
him.

Lord, help me.

Izzy

Waking up felt very different that next day.

Isabelle didn't sink into that familiar limbo she'd felt so
much in the past. She knew exactly where she was and she knew that it was
exactly where she was supposed to be, now.

She missed the sunrise, sleeping like a rock the entire
night and late into the morning. Her body felt more rested and her mind
refreshed. A little more weight was off of her shoulders, a little more of a
curl was in her smile, and the knock at the front door sent a little more of a
rush through her body.

She climbed out of bed and threw the blanket around her
shoulders, not bothering to check her reflection in the mirror. She knew who it
was and her face flushed with excitement.

The afternoon spent in Maggie's garden was one she would not
forget anytime soon. Liam made her laugh mercilessly with his stories about his
younger siblings. Especially the ones about his youngest brother, Colin. The
trouble they consistently found themselves in sounded like quite an adventure
to Isabelle. What would it be like to have constant companions like brothers
and sisters?

She could already tell that the Brannocks were the type of
family she always longed to have. Parents that adored their children and
accepted each one individually no matter how different they turned out. Love
and unconditional acceptance.

What was that like?

Isabelle wondered if she would meet the rest of his family before
she had to leave and hoped that it would be sooner rather than later.

Liam was incredibly handsome. In fact, that first moment she
caught sight of him in her moment of panic, she had struggled to release the
breath that caught in her lungs. His deep blue eyes captivated her and swept
that panic away, along with his kind smile. One she could clearly see under that
neatly trimmed beard.

She was never one to be attracted to men with beards, but
Liam was unique in every way. Those full lips stole her attention half the time
he spoke and the crooked smile he gave her, when he flirted with her, showed a
hint of a dimple on the right side. Lord, she knew if he shaved that beard off
it would be her undoing.

He towered over her, but not once did she feel intimidated
by him. He was a man, but he didn't use his strength or size to make her feel
any less. It was a part of him he didn't take for granted and knew about
himself very well. His gentle touch was proof enough of that. Not to mention
the accent that sent shivers down her spine. The way he said her name, the way
he said
everything
. It made her stomach flutter to hear the curl in his
words and the deep brogue when he asked about
her.
She couldn't get
enough and they stayed in that grove for hours before either of them realized
it was finally getting dark. He drove her back to the house and asked to see
her again. Isabelle didn't hesitate when she said yes, didn't even think about
the consequences or what Christopher or her parents would have said. She just
wanted to see him again.

A near stranger, Izzy? You don't even know the man and
you're acting crazy.

The floor was chilly under her feet, but she was moving too
fast to care. Another knock sounded just before she tripped and nearly collided
with the small table next to the door. The large vase of flowers would have
gone crashing to the floor, but thankfully, she caught herself before that
could happen. Her toe throbbed painfully and she hissed out a string of curses
before lifting her foot into her hand to get a good look at it.

She was clumsier these days and thought it might have to do
with the lack of eyes watching her every move. She didn't have to be perfect
here.

Liam certainly noticed her clumsiness the night before and
instead of insulting her for being so ungraceful, he seemed to favor it. His
observing gaze was not at all critical, but more like he wanted to see what she
would do next.

She limped the few steps to the door and pulled it open with
a grimace.

"What in God's name just happened?" Liam asked, a
look of panic on his face as he looked her up and down. "Are ye
hurt?"

Isabelle smiled in spite of the shooting pain she was still
feeling in her toe. "I just stubbed my toe is all. Moving too fast and not
paying attention to where I was stepping."

His eyes moved down to her bare feet and he grinned.
"Was it a loose board or were ye really just excited to see me?"

Isabelle rolled her eyes and opened the door a little wider.
She found out very quickly that Liam was a natural flirt. At least, with
her
he was. She could sense a bit of shyness when he spoke about himself, but
he was always quick to make her blush.

Liam chuckled and stepped inside, his arms holding a thermos
and large paper bag that held something that smelled divine. "I thought ye
might have gotten a late start so I stopped at Maggie's and found ye some
breakfast and fresh coffee."

God, she loved how he spoke and whenever he saw her brow
furrow in concentration, he slowed his speech and cleared his words. Part of
her was disappointed when that happened, but she would rather have a pleasant
conversation than always be wondering what he was saying.

"Thank you, it smells delicious." She tightened
the blanket around her shoulders and finally realized that she couldn't sit
down and eat breakfast with him while she was still in her nightgown.
"I'll go change."

"Aye, ye better. We have plans," he smiled and his
eyes drifted to her hands, tightly clutching the ends of the blanket.

She wanted to ask him what plans, but those deep blue eyes
taking in her every movement made her forget the question altogether. So, she
turned away and hurried up the stairs.

Once in her bedroom she let out the breath she had been
holding since he walked in the house. "He's only a man, Izzy," she
scolded herself. A man that made her forget her name. She hardly knew anything
about him, but there was no doubt Liam Brannock was different than other men
she'd met in her life. He wasn't there to take advantage of her or overpower
her. He was there to be a friend.

She changed into a pair of pants and a light blouse. It was
another beautiful day and she couldn't wait to explore the town more. She sped
back down the stairs, barely catching herself from tumbling down them only to
find Liam sitting at the dining table. In front of him was a plate full of some
kind of bread that looked mouthwatering.

"I was going to shout to ye and tell ye these would be
gone if you didna hurry it up," he teased her with a smile. "I see ye
already knew."

Izzy felt the heat in her cheeks, but instead of feeling
embarrassed about being so clumsy, she was flattered with the humor in his
eyes.

"Can we stop by Maggie's today so I can thank her. She's
an amazing cook."

"Aye, she is. Better than Ma's, that's for sure. But
don't tell her I said that or she'll let it go to her head."

Isabelle giggled and took a bite of the delicious offering.
"What are these anyway?"

"Barmbrack."

She looked down at the slice in her hand, slowly chewing and
tasting the sweetness of the raisins. "Is it just bread with
raisins?"

Liam chuckled and took a sip of his coffee. "Simply
put, aye it is. This is made a little differently and is sweeter than normal
bread. Kind of like a cake, but not so... cakey."

Isabelle smiled at him, the song in his words made it
difficult for her to concentrate. His aunts spoke the same way, but there was
something deeper about the way Liam said his words. He mentioned it the night
before and she thanked him for trying to speak clear enough for her to catch
what he was saying. That wasn't what made her blood race, though, and she just
couldn't put her finger on it.

 She took another bite of Barmbrack, feeling his eyes on her
as she ate. The bread was delicious and she could see herself having it for
breakfast every day if that was possible.

"Does Maggie make this every morning?"

"She doesn't. This isna really a regular thing, but I
imagine she will if ye ask her. She loves to bake and she'd jump at the
chance."

"Does she live there? In the same place as her
restaurant?"

He nodded. "There's a small room in the back that she
stays in. She'll tell ye she doesna need much and she is content. Ma can't even
get her to stay with us."

"Why doesn't she stay here?"

"She would rather rent this house out to some
unsuspecting stranger, then take advantage of their love of pastries and
cake."

Izzy rolled her eyes and Liam laughed softly as he watched
her take another bite. His eyes captured everything and she wondered if he
could see past the thick skin she'd armed herself with.

"What plans do you have for us today?" she asked,
hoping to distract him from any questions.

"I was hoping ye would like to come to town with me
today. I need to purchase a few things for this place so ye don't trip on
anymore floorboards."

She felt her cheeks flush and Liam winked at her and took
another sip of his coffee. "I also thought ye might enjoy the gardens in
Rathdrum."

"Oh, yes, I would love to go there. Maggie was telling
me about it when I first arrived."

"If ye like Maggie's gardens, I expect ye'll fall in
love with these. It's a short drive, but we should be able to get there by
lunch time. If ye don't mind spending the day."

 Isabelle could feel the excitement bubbling up inside of
her. She couldn't wait so, instead of enjoying breakfast, she convinced him to
leave right then so they could get started. He bagged the bread and followed
her out the door, laughing at her enthusiasm as he helped her into his truck.

Liam stopped in town and bought a few supplies while
Isabelle looked around. It wasn't a large city, but it was bustling with
people. She received a few funny looks, but for the most part, Liam was the one
everyone was curious about.

It shouldn't have been a surprise that he was stopped a few
times by people who knew his parents or siblings. Everyone seemed to be
genuinely interested in how he or his family was doing. Liam answered all their
questions or greeted them with a warm handshake.

Izzy noticed a few young girls gravitate toward him and
after only a short greeting, Liam excused himself to get his errands finished.

When they returned to the truck, he blew out his cheeks and
rolled his shoulders.

"Your family is well known here, is it because your
father is an officer?"

"My father knows everyone and my mother cares about
everyone," he shrugged. "And ye can never forget about Maggie."

He was right about
that
.

They spent the drive into Rathdrum talking about anything
and everything. Izzy found out more about the Brannock family and she told him
about her life back in Ohio. It wasn't exciting, but Liam hung on her every
word and asked her question after question.

"Did ye not plan to attend more schooling?" he
suddenly asked when she casually glanced over the conversation about her plans
for the future.

"I wanted to and still want to, but I don't think it's
in the cards for me. My mother wouldn't support the idea. She doesn't believe a
woman should be out in the world like that."

Liam's lips pressed tightly into a thin line. He didn't seem
to agree with Marjorie Moore's way of life. Not at all.

"She's lived her whole life privileged and isn't the
kind of person to think outside the box," Isabelle added with a shrug.

"Does that give her rights to force it onto her only
daughter then?" he asked quietly.

She didn't answer and he didn't seem to require an answer.
She knew it wasn't right, but the way she grew up felt so final. Only recently
did Isabelle feel the need to fight it.

Liam kept the conversation lighter after that, only asking
her about her interests and anything else she could muster up that was happy.
His interest in her seemed genuine and it hurt to think that it was the first
time that had ever happened to her. The first time someone cared about her that
didn't anticipate what her family could offer them.

When they reached the botanical gardens, Isabelle was
speechless. In all her life, she never thought she would see such a beautiful
place.

"I don't think I ever want to leave," she gasped.

Liam chuckled and guided her to the front gates with his
hand at the small of her back. "We have all day, but I don't think they'll
let you sleep here."

The afternoon continued on very much the same way as the
night before. Isabelle discovered that Liam did so much for his family and took
very little time for himself, but he seemed to appreciate it. He was selfless
and compassionate, but she could sense his need for more. Something they both
seemed to have in common.

The deep looks he gave her sent her heart beat into
overdrive and she couldn't miss how much those small touches affected her. Even
if they were only happening because he was a gentleman, she wanted to think it
was because he
wanted
to touch her.

They explored the gardens and talked until Liam said it was
time to leave. Maggie and Aivy wanted both of them over for supper and he
informed her that being late wouldn't get them any food.

"I promised Maggie we would arrive no later than six, I
hope ye don't mind. I wasn't sure if ye had plans for supper already," he
said.

"Even if I did, I would have changed them. I would love
to see Maggie and Aivy again."

Liam offered his hand once more as she climbed back into the
truck, but instead of closing the door, he stood there silently.

"Everything alright?" she asked.

He cleared his throat and raked a hand through his hair.
"Aye, it's just that the day passed so quickly. I was thinking that I
suddenly don't want to share ye very much with anyone else."